Been riding trails and such with friends for a few years now...figure it's about time to take it up a notch

This will be my first real Hare Scramble, registered for the Senior 40+ class....
I have no intention of trying to win the damn thing or even push it that hard...just looking to finish.
More importantly, I want to avoid being the guy everyone talks about at the end of the race...with most comments starting with "that idiot"

Any suggestions or experience you veterans are willing to share to help me keep that from happening?

on a side note, my 8 year old has asked to run her TTR 50 in the mini class it will be her first race as well

Let us know how it goes! I'm also a total newbie with racing (seems like most people start out when they're really young) and I'm looking forward to learning from your mistakes.

Just remember no one's there to judge you and all the most embarrassing mistakes have already been made. If you fall over in tricky stuff, just do it properly with your feet on the pegs and your head up and over the handlebars. Don't kick your bike over when mounting by not throwing your leg quite high enough over the seat - you'd be surprised what mistakes you make when you're tired/sore/nervous. Let's not get into how I know that one.

Anyways just get good sleep and start mega hydrating the week before the race. Limit yourself to one cuppa joe a day for that week if you can and load a good bit of carbs for two days prior. If you've the time go out and ride for two hours straight as much as possible so you have some idea of what it entails. I'd take a couple of Advil or other NSAID before the event and have some available for after. That takes care of you.

Make sure the bike is up to the job. Do a complete service/checkover and fit a new rear tire if it's even close. Riding for two hours if ya can will also give you an idea of how much fuel you'll use.

When someone comes up behind you yelling and revving the engine let 'em by ASAP. They're not being dicks they're in it to win and you're in the way.

Maybe I oughta go dig up the YZ from West Virginia and run this. Haven't done it since..............I don't remember.

__________________you don't see luggage racks on a hearse..........act accordingly

More importantly, I want to avoid being the guy everyone talks about at the end of the race...with most comments starting with "that idiot"

Not to dishearten you, but you may be that guy anyway. Before I did some desert races out here I thought I was pretty hot shit (or at least not a speed bump) on a motorcycle, especially since I am fairly competitive in mountain bike racing (in the equivalent of class "B"). Nooooooo, it's a whole different world out there. Even the "C" guys I race against out here are a class apart from me in skill. I need a class "D", for "dumbass".

Don't let that stop you from trying, it's still a hell of a lot of fun. You just need to be realistic in your goals and make sure you aren't riding too far over your head. I did that in a race up near Gallup and nearly ended my race after going over the bars pretty hard in a wash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EOD3MC

Any suggestions or experience you veterans are willing to share to help me keep that from happening?

I'm hardly a veteran, but remember to have fun.

You will probably be more exhausted than you have ever been by the end. Remember to drink water while you ride. Stop if you have to in order to drink. It isn't worth the 5 seconds you'll lose doing so to end up dehydrated and in heat stroke. To finish first, you must first finish.

I have no idea how the classes run out there, but if you find yourself severely left in the dust, you might try just racing vanilla C class. A lot of times in bicycle racing the 40+ class is just a bunch of ex-pros who don't want to have to compete against the young pros.

Head that Advice, go out and have FUN! Don't get all worked up on racing, you'll need to maintain your concentration on the riding but take the time to look around and enjoy the ride too.

And listen to yourself, if you think you need to stop and clean your goggles or take a good long drink DO IT! No sense crashing and possibly getting seriously injured just because you thought you couldn't afford 60 seconds to clean your goggles or drop some air pressure.